Lionsgate Takes 'Rise of the Raven' to U.S. and U.K. Audiences

Lionsgate has acquired U.S. and U.K. rights to "Rise of the Raven," the epic period drama produced by Robert Lantos and sold internationally by Beta Film. The deal hands the ten-part Hungarian series the rarest of prizes for a foreign-language production: a mainstream route into English-speaking markets.

The milestone carries weight. Foreign-language series seldom travel to the U.S. and U.K., and no Hungarian drama has arrived with this momentum. "Rise of the Raven" set all-time ratings records on its broadcast premiere on TV2 in Hungary. It then reached No. 1 on Netflix in the country.

The series has already sold widely beyond Hungary. Buyers include CBC in Canada, RAI in Italy, SBS in Australia, Telekom Deutschland in Germany, LG Uplus in South Korea and YES in Israel, along with territories across the Middle East and North Africa.

Who made it?

The producer is Robert Lantos, whose credits include Oscar nominees "Eastern Promises," "Being Julia," "Barney's Version" and "The Sweet Hereafter," Berlin Silver Bear winners "eXistenZ" and "Museo," Cannes Jury Prize winner "Crash" and Golden Globe best picture nominee "Sunshine."

Oscar-nominated Robert Dornhelm ("Vienna Blood," "Maria Theresa," "War and Peace") directs, alongside Orsi Nagypál ("Robin Hood," "The Outpost") and Attila Szász ("Tall Tales"). Balázs Lengyel, of HBO's "Golden Life," serves as showrunner and directs the final episode. Tibor Krsko, Kinga Hazai, Cecilia Hazai and Ari Lantos also produce.

What is the story?

Based on Mór Bán's bestselling novels, the series follows fearless army commander János Hunyadi, played by Gellért L. Kádár, who devotes his life to defending Europe against an Ottoman invasion. His path runs through scandal, political power plays and conspiracies among noble families from Italy, Poland, Austria, Serbia and Hungary.

The women around him anchor the drama. Erzsébet (Vivien Rujder), his wife, not only stands by him but fights alongside him. Mara (Franciska Törőcsik), his first love, becomes chief concubine at the court of Sultan Murad, played by Murathan Muslu.

The climax is continental in scale. When the Ottoman Empire mobilizes an army of unprecedented size to march west, aiming to conquer the Vatican and Europe, Hunyadi leads his small but mighty force into battle and seals a hard-fought victory.

What does this change for foreign-language drama?

It tests whether a Hungarian-language epic can hold U.S. and U.K. viewers that subtitles have historically discouraged. A Lionsgate release, backed by a producer with four Oscar-nominated films, gives the series a stronger commercial platform than any Hungarian production has had before it.

Serendipity Point Films, Twin Media, HG Media, MR Film and Beta Film produced the series. TV2 Network and Austrian public broadcaster ORF co-produced, with support from the National Film Institute of Hungary. The U.S. and U.K. release dates have not been announced.